EP2848965B1 - Contact lenses with embedded labels - Google Patents
Contact lenses with embedded labels Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2848965B1 EP2848965B1 EP14178412.4A EP14178412A EP2848965B1 EP 2848965 B1 EP2848965 B1 EP 2848965B1 EP 14178412 A EP14178412 A EP 14178412A EP 2848965 B1 EP2848965 B1 EP 2848965B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- substrate
- liquid crystal
- label
- ophthalmic lens
- crystal film
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Not-in-force
Links
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 79
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 71
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 claims description 59
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 48
- 230000010287 polarization Effects 0.000 claims description 41
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 239000004977 Liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs) Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 229920000106 Liquid crystal polymer Polymers 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000000379 polymerizing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 210000000695 crystalline len Anatomy 0.000 description 154
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 56
- 210000001508 eye Anatomy 0.000 description 27
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 19
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 18
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 18
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 14
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 10
- 210000004087 cornea Anatomy 0.000 description 10
- 229920006254 polymer film Polymers 0.000 description 9
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000004438 eyesight Effects 0.000 description 8
- 239000000017 hydrogel Substances 0.000 description 8
- 201000009310 astigmatism Diseases 0.000 description 7
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 7
- 230000004305 hyperopia Effects 0.000 description 7
- 201000006318 hyperopia Diseases 0.000 description 7
- 239000003550 marker Substances 0.000 description 7
- 208000001491 myopia Diseases 0.000 description 7
- 230000004379 myopia Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000000049 pigment Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 230000000644 propagated effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 206010020675 Hypermetropia Diseases 0.000 description 5
- DMLAVOWQYNRWNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N azobenzene Chemical compound C1=CC=CC=C1N=NC1=CC=CC=C1 DMLAVOWQYNRWNQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 239000002537 cosmetic Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000035699 permeability Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000001093 holography Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000178 monomer Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229940125730 polarisation modulator Drugs 0.000 description 4
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000975 dye Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000003623 enhancer Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000006116 polymerization reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 210000001525 retina Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 239000005212 4-Cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl Substances 0.000 description 2
- HHPCNRKYVYWYAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl Chemical group C1=CC(CCCCC)=CC=C1C1=CC=C(C#N)C=C1 HHPCNRKYVYWYAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- -1 Poly(vinyl cinnamates Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000005252 bulbus oculi Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000007012 clinical effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000000795 conjunctiva Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 238000012937 correction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920000159 gelatin Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 235000019322 gelatine Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000005276 holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals (HPDLCs) Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012788 optical film Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 201000010041 presbyopia Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 239000011241 protective layer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001225 therapeutic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- QURRVHVLRMVRFM-CXUHLZMHSA-N (4-phenylphenyl) (e)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate Chemical group C1=CC(OC)=CC=C1\C=C\C(=O)OC1=CC=C(C=2C=CC=CC=2)C=C1 QURRVHVLRMVRFM-CXUHLZMHSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 108010010803 Gelatin Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 239000001828 Gelatine Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000005264 High molar mass liquid crystal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 206010034972 Photosensitivity reaction Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 241000907663 Siproeta stelenes Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000002159 abnormal effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002508 contact lithography Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005137 deposition process Methods 0.000 description 1
- KPUWHANPEXNPJT-UHFFFAOYSA-N disiloxane Chemical class [SiH3]O[SiH3] KPUWHANPEXNPJT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005684 electric field Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009501 film coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012467 final product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008273 gelatin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011852 gelatine desserts Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000002372 labelling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011031 large-scale manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008204 material by function Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 1
- CEQFOVLGLXCDCX-WUKNDPDISA-N methyl red Chemical compound C1=CC(N(C)C)=CC=C1\N=N\C1=CC=CC=C1C(O)=O CEQFOVLGLXCDCX-WUKNDPDISA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000059 patterning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920002120 photoresistant polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000036211 photosensitivity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001902 propagating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001454 recorded image Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000015096 spirit Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229940124597 therapeutic agent Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229920002554 vinyl polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000004304 visual acuity Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
- G02C7/00—Optical parts
- G02C7/02—Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses
- G02C7/021—Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses with pattern for identification or with cosmetic or therapeutic effects
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B1/00—Optical elements characterised by the material of which they are made; Optical coatings for optical elements
- G02B1/04—Optical elements characterised by the material of which they are made; Optical coatings for optical elements made of organic materials, e.g. plastics
- G02B1/041—Lenses
- G02B1/043—Contact lenses
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
- B29D11/00009—Production of simple or compound lenses
- B29D11/00038—Production of contact lenses
- B29D11/00125—Auxiliary operations, e.g. removing oxygen from the mould, conveying moulds from a storage to the production line in an inert atmosphere
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
- B29D11/00009—Production of simple or compound lenses
- B29D11/00317—Production of lenses with markings or patterns
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
- B32B37/02—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by a sequence of laminating steps, e.g. by adding new layers at consecutive laminating stations
- B32B37/025—Transfer laminating
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
- B32B37/14—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers
- B32B37/24—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers with at least one layer not being coherent before laminating, e.g. made up from granular material sprinkled onto a substrate
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B38/00—Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
- B32B38/0008—Electrical discharge treatment, e.g. corona, plasma treatment; wave energy or particle radiation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B43/00—Operations specially adapted for layered products and not otherwise provided for, e.g. repairing; Apparatus therefor
- B32B43/006—Delaminating
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
- G02C7/00—Optical parts
- G02C7/02—Lenses; Lens systems ; Methods of designing lenses
- G02C7/04—Contact lenses for the eyes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
- G03F7/26—Processing photosensitive materials; Apparatus therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
- B29K2105/0079—Liquid crystals
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
- B29K2995/0018—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds having particular optical properties, e.g. fluorescent or phosphorescent
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
- B32B37/14—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers
- B32B37/24—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers with at least one layer not being coherent before laminating, e.g. made up from granular material sprinkled onto a substrate
- B32B2037/243—Coating
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B38/00—Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
- B32B2038/0052—Other operations not otherwise provided for
- B32B2038/0068—Changing crystal orientation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2305/00—Condition, form or state of the layers or laminate
- B32B2305/55—Liquid crystals
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
- B32B2307/40—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular optical properties
- B32B2307/418—Refractive
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2310/00—Treatment by energy or chemical effects
- B32B2310/08—Treatment by energy or chemical effects by wave energy or particle radiation
- B32B2310/0806—Treatment by energy or chemical effects by wave energy or particle radiation using electromagnetic radiation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2551/00—Optical elements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to ophthalmic lenses, and more particularly to contact lenses incorporating one or more embedded structures that are sensitive to the direction of incident light and which may be utilized for a number of purposes, including as an inversion marker, as a prescription label, as a brand label and/or as a cosmetic enhancer.
- These structures diffuse light across a range of angles so that the structures may be seen across that same range of angles, effectively providing excellent visibility regardless of the viewing angle.
- Myopia or nearsightedness is an optical or refractive defect of the eye wherein rays of light from an image focus to a point before they reach the retina.
- Myopia generally occurs because the eyeball or globe is too long or the cornea is too steep.
- a minus or negative powered spherical lens may be utilized to correct myopia.
- Hyperopia or farsightedness is an optical or refractive defect of the eye wherein rays of light from an image focus to a point after they reach or behind the retina. Hyperopia generally occurs because the eyeball or globe is too short or the cornea is too flat.
- a plus or positive powered spherical lens may be utilized to correct hyperopia.
- Astigmatism is an optical or refractive defect in which an individual's vision is blurred due to the inability of the eye to focus a point object into a focused image on the retina. Astigmatism is caused by an abnormal curvature of the cornea.
- a perfect cornea is spherical whereas in an individual with astigmatism, the cornea is not spherical. In other words, the cornea is actually more curved or steeper in one direction than another, thereby causing an image to be stretched out rather than focused to a point.
- a cylindrical lens rather than a spherical lens may be utilized to resolve astigmatism.
- Contact lenses may be utilized to correct myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism as well as other visual acuity defects. Contact lenses may also be utilized to enhance the natural appearance of the wearer's eyes. Contact lenses or contacts are simply lenses placed on the eye. Contact lenses are considered medical devices and may be worn to correct vision and/or for cosmetic or other therapeutic reasons. Contact lenses have been utilized commercially to improve vision since the 1950s. Early contact lenses were made or fabricated from hard materials, were relatively expensive and fragile. In addition, these early contact lenses were fabricated from materials that did not allow sufficient oxygen transmission through the contact lens to the conjunctiva and cornea which potentially could cause a number of adverse clinical effects. Although these contact lenses are still utilized, they are not suitable for all patients due to their poor initial comfort.
- silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are available today combine the benefit of silicone, which has extremely high oxygen permeability, with the proven comfort and clinical performance of hydrogels. Essentially, these silicone hydrogel based contact lenses have higher oxygen permeabilities and are generally more comfortable to wear than the contact lenses made of the earlier hard materials.
- contact lenses need to be thin and flexible for wearer comfort. Such flexibility may result in contact lens inversion upon handling. Essentially, contact lens inversion occurs when the corneal or back curve side of the contact lens inverts and becomes the front curve side of the lens due to handling in some manner. Accordingly, if the contact lens is placed on the eye in an inverted state, the desired vision correction and comfort are not achieved. Thus, there is a need for marking the contact lenses such that their normal state may be easily distinguished from the inverted state.
- the currently utilized inversion marker is preferably made in the form of a small number series positioned at the periphery of the contact lens. This makes the marker barely visible thereby requiring special effort and adequate illumination to locate and identify it. Accordingly, there exists a need for an inversion marker, which may include multiple symbols and/or characters, which are highly visible and easily identifiable when the contact lens is out of the eye, but disappears or is optically invisible when placed on the eye.
- Contact lenses may also be difficult to identify. For example, without the packaging, it is difficult to identify the manufacturer of particular lenses. In addition, without the packaging it would be difficult to determine prescription strength and this is especially problematic for individuals whose prescriptions differ from one eye to the other. In other words, the left eye contact lens should be placed in the left eye and the right eye contact lens should be placed in the right eye. Accordingly, it may be particularly advantageous to have contact lenses with embedded indicia.
- the embedded indicia may function as an inversion marker as described above, as a prescription label, as a brand label, as a cosmetic enhancer and/or any other suitable function. A brand label is not only useful for brand recognition, but also to prevent and deter counterfeiting.
- the embedded indicia is highly visible when off the eye but invisible to both the wearer and others when on the wearer's eyes without affecting the optical properties of the lens or its aesthetics.
- the present invention is directed to an ophthalmic lens with an embedded label.
- the ophthalmic lens comprises a contact lens, and one or more embedded structures that are sensitive to the direction of incident light incorporated into the contact lens, wherein the one or more embedded structures comprise holographic recordings, wherein the holographic recordings are revealed only in transmitted light.
- the present invention is directed to an ophthalmic lens with an embedded label.
- the ophthalmic lens comprises a contact lens, and one or more embedded structures that influence the propagation of light incident on the contact lens, wherein the one or more embedded structures comprise holographic recordings, wherein the holographic recordings are revealed only in transmitted light.
- the present invention is directed to a method of fabricating a label for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedded structures of claim 1 or 7.
- the method comprises the steps of depositing a photaligning release material onto a substrate, aligning the photaligning release material with a linearly polarized light to create a homogenous background on the substrate, arranging a mask on a predetermined position in front of the substrate, exposing the homogenous background on the substrate to interfering light beams of orthogonal polarization states through the mask, coating the substrate with a reactive liquid crystal film, polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film, releasing the polymerized liquid crystal polymer film from the substrate, and transferring at least a portion of the released film to the ophthalmic lens.
- the present invention is directed to a method for fabricating a label for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedded structures of claim 1 or 7.
- the method comprises the steps of depositing a photaligning release material onto a substrate, aligning the photaligning release material with a linearly polarized light to create a homogenous background on the substrate, arranging a masked diffractive waveplate in front of the homogenous background on the substrate, exposing the homogenous background on the substrate to a single light beam through the masked diffractive waveplate, coating the homogenous background on the substrate with a reactive liquid crystal film, polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film, releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate and transferring at least a portion of the released film to the ophthalmic lens.
- the present invention is directed to a method for fabricating a label for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedded structures of claim 1 or 7.
- the method comprises the steps of depositing a photoaligning release material onto a substrate, creating diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions on the photoalinging release material by subjecting it to a predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern, depositing a reactive liquid crystal film on the photoalignment layer according to the predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern, polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film, releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate, and transferring at least a portion of the released film to the ophthalmic lens.
- the present invention is directed to a method for fabricating the label from cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedded structures of claim 1 or 7.
- the method comprises the steps of depositing a photoaligning release material onto a substrate, creating diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions on the photoaligning release material by subjecting it to a predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern, depositing a reactive liquid crystal film on the photoalignment layer according to the predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern, polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film, releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate, creating flakes out of the polymerized liquid crystal film, and transferring at least a portion of the flakes to the ophthalmic lens.
- the present invention is directed to contact lenses with embedded labels and methods for labeling them in such a manner that the label is only visible when the lens is off the eye.
- a contact lens or contact lenses in accordance with the present invention comprise an optical film embedded outside of the optical zone.
- the optical film may comprise a diffractive grating that diffracts light propagated through it, but no diffraction is visible in the light reflected from the grating thereby making it invisible to both the wearer and others when the lenses are on eye.
- Utilizing embedded labels comprised of diffractive waveplates provides the advantage of high efficiency broadband diffraction with thin film of continuous structure.
- Diffractive waveplate labels provide a number of advantages, including the fact that very thin material layers may be utilized to obtain high contrast, the diffraction is broadband both spectrally and angularly, a wide range of diffractive structures are available, and the components allow for relatively inexpensive manufacturing.
- the embedded labels in accordance with the present invention may be realized in any number of suitable ways. However, regardless of how the embedded labels are realized, the embedded labels comprise structures that are sensitive to the direction of light as is explained in detail herein. More broadly, the embedded labels comprise structures that influence the propagation of incident light. The embedded labels provide a low cost, easy to manufacture option for clearly identifying a contact lens.
- Contact lenses or contacts are simply lenses placed on the eye. Contact lenses are considered medical devices and may be worn to correct vision and/or for cosmetic or other therapeutic reasons. Contact lenses have been utilized commercially to improve vision since the 1950s. Early contact lenses were made or fabricated from hard materials, were relatively expensive and fragile. In addition, these early contact lenses were fabricated from materials that did not allow sufficient oxygen transmission through the contact lens to the conjunctiva and cornea which potentially could cause a number of adverse clinical effects. Although these contact lenses are still utilized, they are not suitable for all patients due to their poor initial comfort. Later developments in the field gave rise to soft contact lenses, based upon hydrogels, which are extremely popular and widely utilized today.
- silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are available today combine the benefit of silicone, which has extremely high oxygen permeability, with the proven comfort and clinical performance of hydrogels. Essentially, these silicone hydrogel based contact lenses have higher oxygen permeabilities and are generally more comfortable to wear than the contact lenses made of the earlier hard materials.
- contact lenses remain a cost effective means for vision correction.
- the thin plastic lenses fit over the cornea of the eye to correct vision defects, including myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness, astigmatism, i.e. asphericity in the cornea, and presbyopia i.e. the loss of the ability of the crystalline lens to accommodate.
- Contact lenses are available in a variety of forms and are made of a variety of materials to provide different functionality.
- Daily wear soft contact lenses are typically made from soft polymer materials combined with water for oxygen permeability.
- Daily wear soft contact lenses may be daily disposable or extended wear disposable. Daily disposable contact lenses are usually worn for a single day and then discarded, while extended wear disposable contact lenses are usually worn for a period of up to thirty days.
- a visibility tint contact lens uses a light tint to aid the wearer in locating a dropped contact lens
- enhancement tint contact lenses have a translucent tint that is meant to enhance one's natural eye color
- the color tint contact lens comprises a darker, opaque tint meant to change one's eye color
- the light filtering tint contact lens functions to enhance certain colors while muting others.
- Rigid gas permeable hard contact lenses are made from siloxane-containing polymers but are more rigid than soft contact lenses and thus hold their shape and are more durable.
- Bifocal contact lenses are designed specifically for patients with presbyopia and are available in both soft and rigid varieties.
- Toric contact lenses are designed specifically for patients with astigmatism and are also available in both soft and rigid varieties. Combination lenses combining different aspects of the above are also available, for example, hybrid contact lenses.
- Contact lenses need to be thin and flexible for comfort. Such flexibility may result in contact lens inversion upon handling. Accordingly, there is a need for marking the contact lenses with some form of indicia such that their normal or non-inverted state may be easily distinguished from the inverted state.
- the inversion marker is presently made in the form of a small number series at the periphery of each contact lens. This makes the marker barely visible, thus requiring special effort and/or adequate illumination to locate and identify the marks.
- An embedded label or indicia in accordance with the present invention that is highly visible and easily identifiable when the contact lens is out or off of the eye but is invisible on the eye is highly desirable.
- the embedded indicia may be utilized as an inversion marking, as a prescription label, as a brand label, as a cosmetic enhancer and/or for any other suitable means or functionality.
- the present invention is directed to contact lenses incorporating one or more embedded structures that are sensitive to the direction of light.
- the one or more embedded structures influence the propagation of incident light on the contact lens. More specifically, the one or more embedded structures are sensitive to the direction of light and thus may be utilized for manipulating light to achieve the desired propagation effect. These structures do not need to form an image, but rather diffuse light across a range of angles so that the structures may be revealed across a range of angles, effectively providing excellent visibility regardless of the viewing angle.
- a contact lens 100 comprising an embedded label 102 formed from diffractive areas 104.
- the diffractive areas 104 are patterned in the form of the numeric sequence 123 and positioned outside of the optic zone of the contact lens 100. The diffraction of ambient light propagated through the diffractive areas 104 makes the pattern highly discernible, whereas the embedded label 102 is invisible when the contact lens 100 is positioned on the eye 106 due to the absence of light propagated through it as illustrated in Figure 1B . As illustrated, no embedded label 102 is visible when the contact lens 100 is on eye 106.
- the embedded label 102 may comprise any suitable indicia such as the numbers illustrated, letters, signs, patterns, symbols and/or any combination thereof.
- the embedded label 102 may be inserted at different orientations relative to the contact lens 100.
- the embedded label 202 is readable when looking at the outside surface of the contact lens 200 as opposed to the contact lens 100 in Figure 1A where the embedded label 102 is readable when looking at the inside surface of the contact lens 100.
- Figure 3 illustrates such a lens 300.
- incident light rays 302 undergo strong deviation from the initial propagation direction due to the focusing power of the lens 300 as evidenced by transmitted light rays 304.
- the reflected light 306 at the surface of the lens 300 is not strong enough to reveal the lensing action.
- the distance, a, between the object and a lens with focal length, f is reduced such that a « f (for example, if the lens is sitting directly on text)
- the distance of the formed image, b becomes nearly equal to -a according to the lens equation, meaning the image coincides with the object.
- a simple glass window is essentially a lens with an infinitely large focal length.
- microlenses could be utilized as well as pixel elements for creating an embedded label in accordance with the concept of the present invention.
- such a profile may not be even visible due to index matching with the storage solutions utilized in conjunction with contact lenses. Therefore, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, a hologram recorded on an appropriate medium may be utilized as an embedded label.
- Holography is a process whereby three-dimensional images may be created.
- holography is a technique that enables light scattered off objects to be recorded and later reconstructed when the original light field is no longer present.
- holograms for example, a transmission hologram and a polarization hologram.
- ways of creating holograms as is discussed below.
- a transmission hologram 400 is recorded by interfering object beam 402 and reference beam 404.
- the object 406 in this exemplary embodiment is the letter sequence ABC.
- a transmission hologram is one in which the object and reference beams are incident on the recording medium from the same side as illustrated in Figure 4A.
- Figure 4B illustrates the exemplary transmission hologram 400 on medium 408.
- the recorded transmission hologram 400 is generally a film with constant thickness and modulation of refractive index within the bulk of the medium 408.
- the holographically recorded pattern is restored in the presence of a reference beam 410 creating holographic image 412.
- a holographic recording medium has to convert the original interference pattern into an optical element that modifies either the amplitude or the phase of the incident light in proportion to the intensity of the original light field.
- Holographic recording medium is preferably able to fully resolve all the fringes created as a result of the interferences between the object beam and the reference beam. If the response of the medium to the spatial frequencies, as determined from the fringe spacing, is low, the diffraction efficiency of the hologram is low and a dim image is obtained when the hologram is read. If the response of the medium is high, the diffraction efficiency of the hologram is high and a bright image is obtained.
- Exemplary recording materials include photographic emulsions, dichromated gelatin, photoresists, photothermoplastics, photopolymers, photorefractives liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymers.
- Liquid crystals are materials that have properties between those of conventional liquid and those of solid crystal. There are numerous types of liquid crystal phases which may be distinguished by the different optical properties. Liquid crystals (LCs) and liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are a particularly important class of materials for holographic recording for a number of reasons. Firstly, the modulation of the effective refractive index in LCs may be as high as 0.1 and that is at least one-hundred (100) times larger than for most other materials. Secondly, liquid crystal materials, low as well as high molecular weight, allow for versatility in developing holographic gratings to meet different sets of functional requirements. Thirdly, LCs are inexpensive and easily customizable.
- H-PDLCs Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals
- LC dispersed liquid crystals are an example of a holographic medium wherein index modulation is a result of the distribution of LC dispersed in a polymer matrix.
- These dispersions may be made using component pairs from a huge variety of liquid crystals and polymers, proceeding from index matching requirements.
- nematic LC 4-Cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) may be paired with Norland adhesive NOA 65, in an approximately 1:1 ratio, and polymerized with interfering ultra violet (UV) beams at room temperature.
- transmission holograms are characterized by low diffraction efficiency and are spectrally selective.
- One critical advantage of LC materials is the possibility of recording polarization holograms by interfering light beams of orthogonal polarization states. The intensity remains constant in such a pattern, and the result of overlap is a modulation of light polarization in the overlap region of the beams.
- the effective polarization in the overlap region is linear, rotating in space in a pattern as illustrated in Figure 5 and discussed in greater detail below. This polarization pattern may yield an accordingly modulated optical axis in so-called photoanisotropic materials.
- photoanisotropic media examples include, for example, malachite dye in bichromic gelatine and, of more importance for the preferred embodiment, azobenzene dye doped polymers, for example, Methyl Red doped PVA.
- azobenzene dye doped polymers for example, Methyl Red doped PVA.
- a large variety of photoanisotropic materials are known currently, based on azobenzene polymers, polyesthers, photo-crosslinkable polymer liquid crystals with mesogenic 4-(4-methoxycinnamoyloxy)biphenyl side groups and the like.
- a special class of such materials is known as photoalignment materials since they are used in thin film coatings to create anisotropic boundary conditions for alignment of liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymers.
- Such materials include sulfonic bisazodye SD1 and other azobenzene dyes, particularly, PAAD-series materials available from BEAM Engineering for Advanced Measurements Co. (BEAMCO), Poly(vinyl cinnamates), and others.
- a special variety of polarization holograms namely, cycloidal diffractive waveplates (CDW)
- CDW cycloidal diffractive waveplates
- the structure of cycloidal diffractive waveplates comprises anisotropic material film 500, wherein the optical axis orientation is continuously rotating in the plane of the film 500. Nearly one hundred percent efficiency for visible wavelengths is achieved at fulfillment of half-wave phase retardation condition typically met in approximately one micrometer (0.001 mm) thick liquid crystal polymer (LCP) films.
- LCP liquid crystal polymer
- the polarization pattern thus obtained corresponds to the overlap of two circularly polarized beams propagating at the angles ⁇ ⁇ / ⁇ . Only one of the diffraction orders is present in the case of a circularly polarized input beam, the +1 st or -1 st, depending on whether the beam is right or left handed.
- Fabrication of LC and LC polymer diffractive waveplates is a multistep process.
- the technology for printing cycloidal diffractive waveplates from a master waveplate is best fit for large-scale production with high quality and large areas, avoiding all complexity, cost and the stability problems of holographic setups.
- the printing technique makes use of the rotating polarization pattern obtained at the output of the master cycloidal diffractive waveplate from a linearly or circularly polarized input beam.
- the period of the printed waveplates is doubled when one uses a linearly polarized input beam.
- liquid crystal polymer technology based on photoalignment has an advantage of commercial availability of LCPs, for example, from Merck.
- FIG. 6A A liquid crystal polymer cycloidal diffractive waveplate film coated on a glass substrate 600 is illustrated in Figure 6A positioned on top of a text covered item 602.
- Figure 6A demonstrates that the liquid crystal polymer cycloidal diffractive waveplate film does not affect the image of the text that it is seated or positioned on. In the instance, however, when the holographic recording or label is observed through the liquid crystal polymer cycloidal diffractive waveplate film of high diffraction efficiency, the diffraction splits the image of the text laterally into the +/ -1 st orders 604 and 606 with low intensity transmitted central part 608 as illustrated in Figure 6B .
- FIG. 7A there is illustrated a vertically oriented cycloidal diffractive waveplate 700.
- a vertical alignment of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate 700 maximizes the visibility for a skylight or ceiling light 702 by diffracting the incident light onto a beam 704 towards the eye.
- Figure 7B illustrates a horizontally oriented cycloidal diffractive waveplate 706.
- a horizontal, alignment of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate 706 maximizes the visibility for light from windows 708, computer screens and the like by diffracting the incident light onto a beam 710 towards the eye.
- Figures 8A and 8B illustrate the vertical and horizontal alignment of cycloidal diffractive waveplates for a sample label 800.
- Figure 8A illustrates a vertical alignment of the CDW pattern 802 from the sample label 800.
- the background of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate pattern 804 preferably comprises a non-diffractive transparent area with homogenously oriented optical axis or an isotropic area. This type of background is required for fabrication of high quality haze-free labels.
- Figure 8B illustrates a horizontal alignment of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate pattern 806 from the sample label 800.
- the background of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate pattern 804 is the same as described above.
- a two-dimensional modulation of the optical axis orientation in a cycloidal diffractive waveplate 808 as illustrated in Figure 8C may be utilized to provide a two-dimensional diffraction pattern to make it responsive to light sources in multiple locations or from light in different directions.
- Figure 8D is different than Figures 8A - 8C in that in this illustrated exemplary embodiment, the background 812 is diffractive while the label or letter 810 has homogenous orientation of the optical axis or it is optically isotropic.
- the exemplary embodiment of Figure 8D is opposite the exemplary embodiments of Figures 8A and 8B . Accordingly, when looking through a contact lens to a light source, the label itself would appear having bright letters.
- the label 800 illustrated in Figures 8A and 8B may be created or obtained in a number of ways.
- a label such as the one illustrated in Figures 8A and 8B may be generated or created by utilizing a polarization holography technique in conjunction with a mask.
- the overall process comprises a number of steps.
- a photoaligning release material is deposited onto a substrate.
- the photoaligning release material is prealigned with a linearly polarized light.
- a mask with a particular pattern formed therein is arranged between the light sources for creating the holographic image at the substrate. The mask defines the object for the recorded image.
- the photoaligning release material on the substrate is exposed to interfering light beams of orthogonal polarization states through the mask.
- the photoaligning release layer on the substrate is coated with a reactive liquid crystal film.
- the liquid crystal film is polymerized.
- the polymerized liquid crystal film is released from the substrate and may be utilized for any suitable application.
- the mask 900 is positioned between the light sources (not illustrated) creating beams 902 and 904 and the substrate 906.
- the recording beams 902 and 904 may be of orthogonal, particularly, circular polarization.
- the substrate 906 carrying the photoalignment layer 908 is thus exposed to a polarization modulation pattern only in the area corresponding to the label.
- the whole area of the photoalignment layer shall be prealigned with a linearly polarized light.
- PAAD series materials are utilized for the photoalignment. PAAD series materials are available from BEAM CO., Winter Park, Florida, and are based on azobenzene.
- the PAAD series material may be first homogenously aligned before exposing it to the polarization modulation pattern. Due to high photosensitivity to visible wavelengths, the photoalignment of PAAD series materials may be carried out using visible light sources, for example, four hundred twenty (420) nm in wavelength and with a low exposure time. In addition, PAAD series materials may also act as release layers for the final product; namely, the labeled film.
- the labeled film may be obtained by coating the photoaligned substrate with a polymerizable liquid crystal and polymerizing it in an unpolarized light. Reactive mesogens available from Merck & Co. may be utilized for obtaining a liquid crystal polymer layer.
- the photoalignment layer needs to first be photoaligned homogeneously in a given direction by exposing it to a linear polarized light.
- the cycloidal pattern is then printed on the layer due to reversibility of azobenzene-based photoalignment materials.
- the exposure conditions for homogenous and cycloidal alignment may vary.
- the homogeneous photoalignment may be performed with a linear polarized UV light whereas the cycloidal pattern may be printed by a visible beam.
- the exposure doses would depend on the specific material used in the process.
- the photoalignment with a visible beam may be achieved with even as short as one to ten minute exposure at ten (10) mW/cm 2 power density level. This time is further reduced for higher power density light beams.
- the label may be created or obtained utilizing a single light beam and a polarization modulator.
- the overall process comprises a number of steps.
- a photoaligning release material is deposited onto a substrate.
- the photoaligning release material is prealigned with a linearly polarized light.
- a masked diffractive waveplate is arranged between the light source and the substrate.
- the photoaligned release material on the substrate is exposed to the light from a single source through the masked diffractive waveplate.
- the substrate with the photoaligned release material on the substrate is coated with a reactive liquid crystal film.
- the reactive liquid crystal film is polymerized.
- the polymerized liquid crystal polymer film is released from the substrate and may be utilized for any suitable application.
- Figure 10 illustrates an arrangement in accordance with this alternate exemplary embodiment.
- the single light beam 1000 is incident on mask 1002 which is positioned above the polarization modulator 1004.
- the polarization modulator 1004 for example, a cycloidal diffractive waveplate, provides the diffractive property of the pattern obtained at the photoalignment layer 1006 which is supported by substrate 1008.
- the substrate 1008 may comprise any suitable material, for example, a polymer film. It is important to note that the diffractive waveplate may be shaped into a mask.
- the mask 1002, the polarization modulator 1004 and the substrate 1008 are preferably in close proximity to one another in the fabrication process in a way similar to how contact lithography or a projection system may be utilized.
- the arrangement in Figure 10 is exaggerated in size to provide for ease of explanation.
- Figures 11A, 11B and 11C illustrate various views of an array of cycloidal diffractive waveplate labels obtained first on glass and then transferred to a thin support polymer film.
- Figures 11A and 11B illustrate the labels as viewed between crossed polarizers, hence the dark background. Since the cycloidal diffractive waveplates modulate the polarization state of light propagated therethough, the label 1100 appears bright between the crossed polarizers. However, without polarizers, the labels 1100 appear darker than the background due to diffraction of light out of the field of view as illustrated in Figure 11C . Essentially, with this technique, white-on-white labels and/or black-on-white labels may be easily fabricated.
- Figures 14A and 14B are a diagrammatic representation of the process of removing a polymer film comprising a series of printed labels from a substrate in accordance with the present invention.
- the polymer film comprising a series of printed labels 1402 is shown mounted on a substrate 1404.
- the substrate 1404 supports the polymer film 1402 during the fabrication process.
- Figure 14B illustrates the polymer film 1402 separated from the substrate 1404 for transfer onto another object, for example, a support film or a contact lens.
- diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions are created on the photoalignment layer directly.
- the process involves a number of steps.
- a photoaligning release material is deposited onto a substrate.
- diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions are created on the photoalignment layer by subjecting it to a cycloidal polarization pattern.
- a reactive liquid crystal according to the desired pattern is deposited on the photoalignment layer.
- the reactive liquid crystal is polymerized.
- the label is released by dissolving the photoaligning release film using a solvent, for example, water.
- the resulting label may be utilized in any number of suitable applications.
- Figure 12 illustrates this process in more detail.
- the photoalignment layer 1200 is patterned cycloidally over the whole area coating on the substrate 1202 followed by printing the liquid crystal monomer 1204 according to the pattern comprising the label as illustrated in Figure 12 .
- Polymerization of the monomer allows for releasing the pattern for transfer onto a contact lens as illustrated in Figure 2 .
- Transferring the label 1206 onto a contact lens in the form of separate letters, numbers, signs and/or symbols offers the advantage of reduced stresses on the contact lens structure and the reduced effect of the label on the mechanical properties of the lens that otherwise may lead to a change of shape and buckling, particularly for the large label size.
- a liquid crystal monomer 1300 is coated over the whole area of cycloidally photoaligned film 1302, which is on substrate 1304, and is polymerized by light 1306 through mask 1308 according to the label pattern as illustrated in Figure 13 .
- the unpolymerized portions of the pattern are then washed away by a solvent, thereby releasing the label.
- the advantage of this method is that no printing of the monomer is required, thereby simplifying the deposition process.
- the labels may be printed directly onto a contact lens utilizing small cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes and/or pigments.
- the flakes and/or pigments may be obtained, for example, in a process similar to the printing process as illustrated and described with respect to Figure 12 .
- the size and shape of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes and/or pigments may be controlled both by varying printing condition or polymerization conditions to fit, for example, stamps already used in production. By creating these flakes and/or pigments, one may minimize the stress differences between dissimilar materials.
- a contact lens which is formed from a different material, stresses are created.
- the size of the film is reduced, for example, by creating flakes and/or pigments, the stress may be reduced.
- the embedded label may comprise a thin film as set forth herein and also include one or more protective layers.
- the one or more protective layers may themselves be thin films.
- the embedded label may also comprise functional materials, including photochromic materials and therapeutic agents.
- a label is fabricated by generating a patterned hologram on a support substrate, it may be incorporated into the contact lens.
- the label is simply transferred and positioned in the desired location of the lens mold in a standard lens fabrication technique.
- the label is positioned in the peripheral portion or zone of the lens rather than in the optic zone.
- the fabrication processes for the labels set forth herein may be utilized in conjunction with any number of structures.
- the labels may be embedded in high end watches or bottles for wine or spirits.
- cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes and/or pigments may be utilized in a similar manner.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- Holo Graphy (AREA)
- Diffracting Gratings Or Hologram Optical Elements (AREA)
- Polarising Elements (AREA)
- Liquid Crystal (AREA)
- Eyeglasses (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to ophthalmic lenses, and more particularly to contact lenses incorporating one or more embedded structures that are sensitive to the direction of incident light and which may be utilized for a number of purposes, including as an inversion marker, as a prescription label, as a brand label and/or as a cosmetic enhancer. These structures diffuse light across a range of angles so that the structures may be seen across that same range of angles, effectively providing excellent visibility regardless of the viewing angle.
- Myopia or nearsightedness is an optical or refractive defect of the eye wherein rays of light from an image focus to a point before they reach the retina. Myopia generally occurs because the eyeball or globe is too long or the cornea is too steep. A minus or negative powered spherical lens may be utilized to correct myopia. Hyperopia or farsightedness is an optical or refractive defect of the eye wherein rays of light from an image focus to a point after they reach or behind the retina. Hyperopia generally occurs because the eyeball or globe is too short or the cornea is too flat. A plus or positive powered spherical lens may be utilized to correct hyperopia. Astigmatism is an optical or refractive defect in which an individual's vision is blurred due to the inability of the eye to focus a point object into a focused image on the retina. Astigmatism is caused by an abnormal curvature of the cornea. A perfect cornea is spherical whereas in an individual with astigmatism, the cornea is not spherical. In other words, the cornea is actually more curved or steeper in one direction than another, thereby causing an image to be stretched out rather than focused to a point. A cylindrical lens rather than a spherical lens may be utilized to resolve astigmatism.
- Contact lenses may be utilized to correct myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism as well as other visual acuity defects. Contact lenses may also be utilized to enhance the natural appearance of the wearer's eyes. Contact lenses or contacts are simply lenses placed on the eye. Contact lenses are considered medical devices and may be worn to correct vision and/or for cosmetic or other therapeutic reasons. Contact lenses have been utilized commercially to improve vision since the 1950s. Early contact lenses were made or fabricated from hard materials, were relatively expensive and fragile. In addition, these early contact lenses were fabricated from materials that did not allow sufficient oxygen transmission through the contact lens to the conjunctiva and cornea which potentially could cause a number of adverse clinical effects. Although these contact lenses are still utilized, they are not suitable for all patients due to their poor initial comfort. Later developments in the field gave rise to soft contact lenses, based upon hydrogels, which are extremely popular and widely utilized today. Specifically, silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are available today combine the benefit of silicone, which has extremely high oxygen permeability, with the proven comfort and clinical performance of hydrogels. Essentially, these silicone hydrogel based contact lenses have higher oxygen permeabilities and are generally more comfortable to wear than the contact lenses made of the earlier hard materials.
- Contact lenses need to be thin and flexible for wearer comfort. Such flexibility may result in contact lens inversion upon handling. Essentially, contact lens inversion occurs when the corneal or back curve side of the contact lens inverts and becomes the front curve side of the lens due to handling in some manner. Accordingly, if the contact lens is placed on the eye in an inverted state, the desired vision correction and comfort are not achieved. Thus, there is a need for marking the contact lenses such that their normal state may be easily distinguished from the inverted state. In order not to affect the aesthetic and optical properties of the contact lens, the currently utilized inversion marker is preferably made in the form of a small number series positioned at the periphery of the contact lens. This makes the marker barely visible thereby requiring special effort and adequate illumination to locate and identify it. Accordingly, there exists a need for an inversion marker, which may include multiple symbols and/or characters, which are highly visible and easily identifiable when the contact lens is out of the eye, but disappears or is optically invisible when placed on the eye.
- Contact lenses may also be difficult to identify. For example, without the packaging, it is difficult to identify the manufacturer of particular lenses. In addition, without the packaging it would be difficult to determine prescription strength and this is especially problematic for individuals whose prescriptions differ from one eye to the other. In other words, the left eye contact lens should be placed in the left eye and the right eye contact lens should be placed in the right eye. Accordingly, it may be particularly advantageous to have contact lenses with embedded indicia. The embedded indicia may function as an inversion marker as described above, as a prescription label, as a brand label, as a cosmetic enhancer and/or any other suitable function. A brand label is not only useful for brand recognition, but also to prevent and deter counterfeiting. Preferably, the embedded indicia is highly visible when off the eye but invisible to both the wearer and others when on the wearer's eyes without affecting the optical properties of the lens or its aesthetics.
- The contact lenses with embedded labels in accordance with the present invention overcome the disadvantages associated with the prior art as briefly set forth above.
- In accordance with one aspect, the present invention is directed to an ophthalmic lens with an embedded label. The ophthalmic lens comprises a contact lens, and one or more embedded structures that are sensitive to the direction of incident light incorporated into the contact lens, wherein the one or more embedded structures comprise holographic recordings, wherein the holographic recordings are revealed only in transmitted light.
- In accordance with another aspect, the present invention is directed to an ophthalmic lens with an embedded label. The ophthalmic lens comprises a contact lens, and one or more embedded structures that influence the propagation of light incident on the contact lens, wherein the one or more embedded structures comprise holographic recordings, wherein the holographic recordings are revealed only in transmitted light.
- In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of fabricating a label for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedded structures of
claim 1 or 7. The method comprises the steps of depositing a photaligning release material onto a substrate, aligning the photaligning release material with a linearly polarized light to create a homogenous background on the substrate, arranging a mask on a predetermined position in front of the substrate, exposing the homogenous background on the substrate to interfering light beams of orthogonal polarization states through the mask, coating the substrate with a reactive liquid crystal film, polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film, releasing the polymerized liquid crystal polymer film from the substrate, and transferring at least a portion of the released film to the ophthalmic lens. - In accordance with yet still another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for fabricating a label for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedded structures of
claim 1 or 7. The method comprises the steps of depositing a photaligning release material onto a substrate, aligning the photaligning release material with a linearly polarized light to create a homogenous background on the substrate, arranging a masked diffractive waveplate in front of the homogenous background on the substrate, exposing the homogenous background on the substrate to a single light beam through the masked diffractive waveplate, coating the homogenous background on the substrate with a reactive liquid crystal film, polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film, releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate and transferring at least a portion of the released film to the ophthalmic lens. - In accordance with still another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for fabricating a label for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedded structures of
claim 1 or 7. The method comprises the steps of depositing a photoaligning release material onto a substrate, creating diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions on the photoalinging release material by subjecting it to a predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern, depositing a reactive liquid crystal film on the photoalignment layer according to the predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern, polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film, releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate, and transferring at least a portion of the released film to the ophthalmic lens. - In accordance with yet still another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for fabricating the label from cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedded structures of
claim 1 or 7. The method comprises the steps of depositing a photoaligning release material onto a substrate, creating diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions on the photoaligning release material by subjecting it to a predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern, depositing a reactive liquid crystal film on the photoalignment layer according to the predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern, polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film, releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate, creating flakes out of the polymerized liquid crystal film, and transferring at least a portion of the flakes to the ophthalmic lens. - The present invention is directed to contact lenses with embedded labels and methods for labeling them in such a manner that the label is only visible when the lens is off the eye. A contact lens or contact lenses in accordance with the present invention comprise an optical film embedded outside of the optical zone. The optical film may comprise a diffractive grating that diffracts light propagated through it, but no diffraction is visible in the light reflected from the grating thereby making it invisible to both the wearer and others when the lenses are on eye. Utilizing embedded labels comprised of diffractive waveplates provides the advantage of high efficiency broadband diffraction with thin film of continuous structure.
- In accordance with the present invention, the functionality described above may be achieved by utilizing diffractive waveplates and other transmissive holography films. Diffractive waveplate labels provide a number of advantages, including the fact that very thin material layers may be utilized to obtain high contrast, the diffraction is broadband both spectrally and angularly, a wide range of diffractive structures are available, and the components allow for relatively inexpensive manufacturing.
- It is important to note that the embedded labels in accordance with the present invention may be realized in any number of suitable ways. However, regardless of how the embedded labels are realized, the embedded labels comprise structures that are sensitive to the direction of light as is explained in detail herein. More broadly, the embedded labels comprise structures that influence the propagation of incident light. The embedded labels provide a low cost, easy to manufacture option for clearly identifying a contact lens.
- The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
-
Figure 1A is a diagrammatic representation of a visible label associated with a contact lens in accordance with the present invention. -
Figure 1B is a diagrammatic representation of the contact lens ofFigure 1A positioned on-eye in accordance with the present invention. -
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a label readable from the outside of a contact lens in accordance with the present invention. -
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a transmissive optical element that visibly changes the light propagated therethrough but not the light reflected therefrom. -
Figure 4A is a diagrammatic representation of the recording of a hologram carrying information with two interfering light beams. -
Figure 4B a diagrammatic representation of the reading out of the information recorded in the hologram ofFigure 4A with an incident light transmitted therethrough. -
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the structure of a cycloidal diffractive waveplate. -
Figure 6A is a diagrammatic representation of a cycloidal diffractive waveplate positioned above text. -
Figure 6B is a diagrammatic representation of a cycloidal diffractive waveplate positioned on the text ofFigure 6A . -
Figure 7A is a diagrammatic illustration of the diffraction of a light beam on a cycloidal diffractive waveplate in a vertical orientation. -
Figure 7B is a diagrammatic illustration of the diffraction of a light beam on a cycloidal diffractive waveplane in a horizontal orientation. -
Figure 8A is a diagrammatic representation of a vertically modulated cycloidal diffractive pattern on a homogenously oriented material background. -
Figure 8B is a diagrammatic representation of a horizontally modulated cycloidal diffractive pattern on a homogenously oriented material background. -
Figure 8C is a diagrammatic representation of a two-dimensionally modulated cycloidal diffractive pattern. -
Figure 8D is a diagrammatic representation of a horizontally modulated cycloidal diffractive background with a homogenously oriented pattern. -
Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representation of the recording of a cycloidal diffractive waveplate through a mask with interfering light beams in accordance with the present invention. -
Figure 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the printing of a cycloidal diffractive waveplate label through a mask and a master cycloidal diffractive waveplate acting as a polarization converter in accordance with the present invention. -
Figure 11A is a diagrammatic representation of cycloidal diffractive waveplate labels on a substrate between crossed polarizers. -
Figure 11B is a diagrammatic representation of a polymer film carrying the labels separated from the glass between crossed polarizers. -
Figure 11C is a diagrammatic representation of the polymer film with no polarizers. -
Figure 12 is a diagrammatic representation of the fabrication process of the contact lens label by patterning reactive liquid crystal on a cycloidally photoalighed substrate followed by polymerization and release in accordance with the present invention. -
Figure 13 is a diagrammatic representation of an alternate fabrication process of a contact lens label in accordance with the present invention. -
Figures 14A and 14B are a diagrammatic representation of the process of removing a polymer film comprising a series of printed labels from a substrate in accordance with the present invention. - Contact lenses or contacts are simply lenses placed on the eye. Contact lenses are considered medical devices and may be worn to correct vision and/or for cosmetic or other therapeutic reasons. Contact lenses have been utilized commercially to improve vision since the 1950s. Early contact lenses were made or fabricated from hard materials, were relatively expensive and fragile. In addition, these early contact lenses were fabricated from materials that did not allow sufficient oxygen transmission through the contact lens to the conjunctiva and cornea which potentially could cause a number of adverse clinical effects. Although these contact lenses are still utilized, they are not suitable for all patients due to their poor initial comfort. Later developments in the field gave rise to soft contact lenses, based upon hydrogels, which are extremely popular and widely utilized today. Specifically, silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are available today combine the benefit of silicone, which has extremely high oxygen permeability, with the proven comfort and clinical performance of hydrogels. Essentially, these silicone hydrogel based contact lenses have higher oxygen permeabilities and are generally more comfortable to wear than the contact lenses made of the earlier hard materials.
- Currently available contact lenses remain a cost effective means for vision correction. The thin plastic lenses fit over the cornea of the eye to correct vision defects, including myopia or nearsightedness, hyperopia or farsightedness, astigmatism, i.e. asphericity in the cornea, and presbyopia i.e. the loss of the ability of the crystalline lens to accommodate. Contact lenses are available in a variety of forms and are made of a variety of materials to provide different functionality. Daily wear soft contact lenses are typically made from soft polymer materials combined with water for oxygen permeability. Daily wear soft contact lenses may be daily disposable or extended wear disposable. Daily disposable contact lenses are usually worn for a single day and then discarded, while extended wear disposable contact lenses are usually worn for a period of up to thirty days. Colored soft contact lenses use different materials to provide different functionality. For example, a visibility tint contact lens uses a light tint to aid the wearer in locating a dropped contact lens, enhancement tint contact lenses have a translucent tint that is meant to enhance one's natural eye color, the color tint contact lens comprises a darker, opaque tint meant to change one's eye color, and the light filtering tint contact lens functions to enhance certain colors while muting others. Rigid gas permeable hard contact lenses are made from siloxane-containing polymers but are more rigid than soft contact lenses and thus hold their shape and are more durable. Bifocal contact lenses are designed specifically for patients with presbyopia and are available in both soft and rigid varieties. Toric contact lenses are designed specifically for patients with astigmatism and are also available in both soft and rigid varieties. Combination lenses combining different aspects of the above are also available, for example, hybrid contact lenses.
- Contact lenses need to be thin and flexible for comfort. Such flexibility may result in contact lens inversion upon handling. Accordingly, there is a need for marking the contact lenses with some form of indicia such that their normal or non-inverted state may be easily distinguished from the inverted state. In order not to affect the aesthetic and optical properties of the contact lens, the inversion marker is presently made in the form of a small number series at the periphery of each contact lens. This makes the marker barely visible, thus requiring special effort and/or adequate illumination to locate and identify the marks. An embedded label or indicia in accordance with the present invention that is highly visible and easily identifiable when the contact lens is out or off of the eye but is invisible on the eye is highly desirable. The embedded indicia may be utilized as an inversion marking, as a prescription label, as a brand label, as a cosmetic enhancer and/or for any other suitable means or functionality.
- The present invention is directed to contact lenses incorporating one or more embedded structures that are sensitive to the direction of light. The one or more embedded structures influence the propagation of incident light on the contact lens. More specifically, the one or more embedded structures are sensitive to the direction of light and thus may be utilized for manipulating light to achieve the desired propagation effect. These structures do not need to form an image, but rather diffuse light across a range of angles so that the structures may be revealed across a range of angles, effectively providing excellent visibility regardless of the viewing angle.
- Referring now to
Figures 1A and 1B , there is illustrated acontact lens 100 comprising an embeddedlabel 102 formed fromdiffractive areas 104. In this exemplary embodiment, thediffractive areas 104 are patterned in the form of thenumeric sequence 123 and positioned outside of the optic zone of thecontact lens 100. The diffraction of ambient light propagated through thediffractive areas 104 makes the pattern highly discernible, whereas the embeddedlabel 102 is invisible when thecontact lens 100 is positioned on theeye 106 due to the absence of light propagated through it as illustrated inFigure 1B . As illustrated, no embeddedlabel 102 is visible when thecontact lens 100 is oneye 106. The embeddedlabel 102 may comprise any suitable indicia such as the numbers illustrated, letters, signs, patterns, symbols and/or any combination thereof. In addition, the embeddedlabel 102 may be inserted at different orientations relative to thecontact lens 100. InFigure 2 , for example, the embeddedlabel 202 is readable when looking at the outside surface of thecontact lens 200 as opposed to thecontact lens 100 inFigure 1A where the embeddedlabel 102 is readable when looking at the inside surface of thecontact lens 100. - The general concept behind the present invention; namely, visibility with light transmitted through the label and invisibility with no light transmitted therethrough, may be explained utilizing a simple lens as an example.
Figure 3 illustrates such alens 300. When propagated through thelens 300, incident light rays 302 undergo strong deviation from the initial propagation direction due to the focusing power of thelens 300 as evidenced by transmittedlight rays 304. On the other hand, the reflected light 306 at the surface of thelens 300 is not strong enough to reveal the lensing action. Moreover, if the distance, a, between the object and a lens with focal length, f, is reduced such that a « f (for example, if the lens is sitting directly on text), the distance of the formed image, b, becomes nearly equal to -a according to the lens equation, meaning the image coincides with the object. The situation is thus similar to looking at text through a simple glass window. A simple glass window is essentially a lens with an infinitely large focal length. - Accordingly, microlenses could be utilized as well as pixel elements for creating an embedded label in accordance with the concept of the present invention. However, it is generally not desired to create an additional surface profile, particularly for contact lenses. In addition, such a profile may not be even visible due to index matching with the storage solutions utilized in conjunction with contact lenses. Therefore, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, a hologram recorded on an appropriate medium may be utilized as an embedded label. Holography is a process whereby three-dimensional images may be created. Essentially, holography is a technique that enables light scattered off objects to be recorded and later reconstructed when the original light field is no longer present. There are a number of different types of holograms, for example, a transmission hologram and a polarization hologram. In addition, there are a number of ways of creating holograms as is discussed below.
- In a preferred exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in
Figure 4A , instead of a lens as described above with respect toFigure 3 , atransmission hologram 400 is recorded by interferingobject beam 402 andreference beam 404. Theobject 406 in this exemplary embodiment is the letter sequence ABC. A transmission hologram is one in which the object and reference beams are incident on the recording medium from the same side as illustrated inFigure 4A. Figure 4B illustrates theexemplary transmission hologram 400 onmedium 408. The recordedtransmission hologram 400 is generally a film with constant thickness and modulation of refractive index within the bulk of the medium 408. The holographically recorded pattern is restored in the presence of areference beam 410 creatingholographic image 412. - A holographic recording medium has to convert the original interference pattern into an optical element that modifies either the amplitude or the phase of the incident light in proportion to the intensity of the original light field. Holographic recording medium is preferably able to fully resolve all the fringes created as a result of the interferences between the object beam and the reference beam. If the response of the medium to the spatial frequencies, as determined from the fringe spacing, is low, the diffraction efficiency of the hologram is low and a dim image is obtained when the hologram is read. If the response of the medium is high, the diffraction efficiency of the hologram is high and a bright image is obtained. Exemplary recording materials include photographic emulsions, dichromated gelatin, photoresists, photothermoplastics, photopolymers, photorefractives liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymers.
- Liquid crystals are materials that have properties between those of conventional liquid and those of solid crystal. There are numerous types of liquid crystal phases which may be distinguished by the different optical properties. Liquid crystals (LCs) and liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) are a particularly important class of materials for holographic recording for a number of reasons. Firstly, the modulation of the effective refractive index in LCs may be as high as 0.1 and that is at least one-hundred (100) times larger than for most other materials. Secondly, liquid crystal materials, low as well as high molecular weight, allow for versatility in developing holographic gratings to meet different sets of functional requirements. Thirdly, LCs are inexpensive and easily customizable. Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals (H-PDLCs) are an example of a holographic medium wherein index modulation is a result of the distribution of LC dispersed in a polymer matrix. These dispersions may be made using component pairs from a huge variety of liquid crystals and polymers, proceeding from index matching requirements. For example, nematic LC 4-Cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) may be paired with Norland adhesive NOA 65, in an approximately 1:1 ratio, and polymerized with interfering ultra violet (UV) beams at room temperature.
- Typically, transmission holograms are characterized by low diffraction efficiency and are spectrally selective. One critical advantage of LC materials is the possibility of recording polarization holograms by interfering light beams of orthogonal polarization states. The intensity remains constant in such a pattern, and the result of overlap is a modulation of light polarization in the overlap region of the beams. In the particularly important case of right- and left-circularly polarized beams, the effective polarization in the overlap region is linear, rotating in space in a pattern as illustrated in
Figure 5 and discussed in greater detail below. This polarization pattern may yield an accordingly modulated optical axis in so-called photoanisotropic materials. Examples of such photoanisotropic media include, for example, malachite dye in bichromic gelatine and, of more importance for the preferred embodiment, azobenzene dye doped polymers, for example, Methyl Red doped PVA. A large variety of photoanisotropic materials are known currently, based on azobenzene polymers, polyesthers, photo-crosslinkable polymer liquid crystals with mesogenic 4-(4-methoxycinnamoyloxy)biphenyl side groups and the like. A special class of such materials is known as photoalignment materials since they are used in thin film coatings to create anisotropic boundary conditions for alignment of liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymers. Examples of such materials include sulfonic bisazodye SD1 and other azobenzene dyes, particularly, PAAD-series materials available from BEAM Engineering for Advanced Measurements Co. (BEAMCO), Poly(vinyl cinnamates), and others. - A special variety of polarization holograms; namely, cycloidal diffractive waveplates (CDW), provide substantially one hundred (100) percent diffraction efficiency and may be spectrally broadband. The structure of cycloidal diffractive waveplates, schematically illustrated in
Figure 5 , comprisesanisotropic material film 500, wherein the optical axis orientation is continuously rotating in the plane of thefilm 500. Nearly one hundred percent efficiency for visible wavelengths is achieved at fulfillment of half-wave phase retardation condition typically met in approximately one micrometer (0.001 mm) thick liquid crystal polymer (LCP) films. - Such an unusual situation in optics where a thin grating exhibits high efficiency, may be understood by considering a linearly polarized light beam of wavelength λ incident normally, along the z-axis, on a birefringent film in the x,y plane. If the thickness of the film L and its optical anisotropy, Δn, are chosen such that LΔn = λ/2, and its optical axis is oriented at forty-five (45) degrees, angle α, with respect to the polarization direction of the input beam, the polarization of the output beam is rotated by ninety (90) degrees, angle β. This is how half-wave waveplates function. The polarization rotation angle at the output of such a waveplate, β = 2α, depends on the orientation of the optical axis d = (dx, dy ) = (cosα, sin α). Liquid crystal materials, both low molecular weight as well as polymeric, allow continuous rotation of d in the plane of the waveplate at high spatial frequencies, α = qx, where the spatial modulation period A = 2π/q may be comparable to the wavelength of visible light. Polarization of light at the output of such a waveplate is consequently modulated in space, β = 2qx, and the electric field in the rotating polarization pattern at the output of this waveplate is averaged out, < E > = 0, and there is no light transmitted in the direction of the incident beam. The polarization pattern thus obtained corresponds to the overlap of two circularly polarized beams propagating at the angles ± λ/Λ. Only one of the diffraction orders is present in the case of a circularly polarized input beam, the +1 st or -1 st, depending on whether the beam is right or left handed.
- Fabrication of LC and LC polymer diffractive waveplates is a multistep process. The technology for printing cycloidal diffractive waveplates from a master waveplate is best fit for large-scale production with high quality and large areas, avoiding all complexity, cost and the stability problems of holographic setups. The printing technique makes use of the rotating polarization pattern obtained at the output of the master cycloidal diffractive waveplate from a linearly or circularly polarized input beam. The period of the printed waveplates is doubled when one uses a linearly polarized input beam. As compared to direct recording in photoanisotropic materials, liquid crystal polymer technology based on photoalignment has an advantage of commercial availability of LCPs, for example, from Merck. A typical LCP, reactive mesogens in Merck nomenclature, such as RMS-001C, is spin coated (typically three thousand (3000) rpm for sixty (60) s) on a photoalignment layer and UV polymerized for approximately ten (10) minutes. More than a single layer is coated for broadband diffraction or for adjusting the peak diffraction wavelength.
- A liquid crystal polymer cycloidal diffractive waveplate film coated on a
glass substrate 600 is illustrated inFigure 6A positioned on top of a text covereditem 602.Figure 6A demonstrates that the liquid crystal polymer cycloidal diffractive waveplate film does not affect the image of the text that it is seated or positioned on. In the instance, however, when the holographic recording or label is observed through the liquid crystal polymer cycloidal diffractive waveplate film of high diffraction efficiency, the diffraction splits the image of the text laterally into the +/ -1storders Figure 6B . - Different orientations of the cycloidal diffractive waveplates, for example, vertical, horizontal or any other orientation therebetween may be utilized for maximizing the visibility of the label or indicia under common illumination conditions. Referring to
Figure 7A , there is illustrated a vertically oriented cycloidaldiffractive waveplate 700. A vertical alignment of the cycloidaldiffractive waveplate 700 maximizes the visibility for a skylight orceiling light 702 by diffracting the incident light onto abeam 704 towards the eye.Figure 7B illustrates a horizontally oriented cycloidaldiffractive waveplate 706. A horizontal, alignment of the cycloidaldiffractive waveplate 706 maximizes the visibility for light fromwindows 708, computer screens and the like by diffracting the incident light onto abeam 710 towards the eye. -
Figures 8A and8B illustrate the vertical and horizontal alignment of cycloidal diffractive waveplates for asample label 800.Figure 8A illustrates a vertical alignment of theCDW pattern 802 from thesample label 800. The background of the cycloidaldiffractive waveplate pattern 804 preferably comprises a non-diffractive transparent area with homogenously oriented optical axis or an isotropic area. This type of background is required for fabrication of high quality haze-free labels.Figure 8B illustrates a horizontal alignment of the cycloidaldiffractive waveplate pattern 806 from thesample label 800. The background of the cycloidaldiffractive waveplate pattern 804 is the same as described above. A two-dimensional modulation of the optical axis orientation in a cycloidaldiffractive waveplate 808 as illustrated inFigure 8C may be utilized to provide a two-dimensional diffraction pattern to make it responsive to light sources in multiple locations or from light in different directions.Figure 8D is different thanFigures 8A - 8C in that in this illustrated exemplary embodiment, thebackground 812 is diffractive while the label orletter 810 has homogenous orientation of the optical axis or it is optically isotropic. In other words, the exemplary embodiment ofFigure 8D is opposite the exemplary embodiments ofFigures 8A and8B . Accordingly, when looking through a contact lens to a light source, the label itself would appear having bright letters. - The
label 800 illustrated inFigures 8A and8B may be created or obtained in a number of ways. In one exemplary embodiment, a label such as the one illustrated inFigures 8A and8B may be generated or created by utilizing a polarization holography technique in conjunction with a mask. The overall process comprises a number of steps. In a first step, a photoaligning release material is deposited onto a substrate. In the next step, the photoaligning release material is prealigned with a linearly polarized light. In the next step, a mask with a particular pattern formed therein is arranged between the light sources for creating the holographic image at the substrate. The mask defines the object for the recorded image. In the next step, the photoaligning release material on the substrate is exposed to interfering light beams of orthogonal polarization states through the mask. In the next step, the photoaligning release layer on the substrate is coated with a reactive liquid crystal film. In the next step, the liquid crystal film is polymerized. In the next step, the polymerized liquid crystal film is released from the substrate and may be utilized for any suitable application. - A more particular description is given with respect to
Figure 9 . As illustrated, themask 900 is positioned between the light sources (not illustrated) creatingbeams substrate 906. The recording beams 902 and 904 may be of orthogonal, particularly, circular polarization. By utilizing themask 900, thesubstrate 906 carrying thephotoalignment layer 908 is thus exposed to a polarization modulation pattern only in the area corresponding to the label. However, prior to this step, the whole area of the photoalignment layer shall be prealigned with a linearly polarized light. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, PAAD series materials are utilized for the photoalignment. PAAD series materials are available from BEAM CO., Winter Park, Florida, and are based on azobenzene. Due to their property of reversibility, the PAAD series material may be first homogenously aligned before exposing it to the polarization modulation pattern. Due to high photosensitivity to visible wavelengths, the photoalignment of PAAD series materials may be carried out using visible light sources, for example, four hundred twenty (420) nm in wavelength and with a low exposure time. In addition, PAAD series materials may also act as release layers for the final product; namely, the labeled film. The labeled film may be obtained by coating the photoaligned substrate with a polymerizable liquid crystal and polymerizing it in an unpolarized light. Reactive mesogens available from Merck & Co. may be utilized for obtaining a liquid crystal polymer layer. BEAM Co's polymerizable liquid crystal materials present an alternative with the advantage of providing visible diffraction with a single coating and due to providing high diffraction efficiency high quality texture-free film. To produce a fully transparent haze-free label, the photoalignment layer needs to first be photoaligned homogeneously in a given direction by exposing it to a linear polarized light. The cycloidal pattern is then printed on the layer due to reversibility of azobenzene-based photoalignment materials. The exposure conditions for homogenous and cycloidal alignment may vary. For example, the homogeneous photoalignment may be performed with a linear polarized UV light whereas the cycloidal pattern may be printed by a visible beam. The exposure doses would depend on the specific material used in the process. Typically, for PAAD series of materials, for example, the photoalignment with a visible beam may be achieved with even as short as one to ten minute exposure at ten (10) mW/cm2 power density level. This time is further reduced for higher power density light beams. - In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the label may be created or obtained utilizing a single light beam and a polarization modulator. Once again the overall process comprises a number of steps. In a first step, a photoaligning release material is deposited onto a substrate. In the next step, the photoaligning release material is prealigned with a linearly polarized light. In the next step, a masked diffractive waveplate is arranged between the light source and the substrate. In the next step, the photoaligned release material on the substrate is exposed to the light from a single source through the masked diffractive waveplate. In the next step, the substrate with the photoaligned release material on the substrate is coated with a reactive liquid crystal film. In the next step, the reactive liquid crystal film is polymerized. In the next step, the polymerized liquid crystal polymer film is released from the substrate and may be utilized for any suitable application.
- A more particular description is given with respect to
Figure 10. Figure 10 illustrates an arrangement in accordance with this alternate exemplary embodiment. As illustrated inFigure 10 , thesingle light beam 1000 is incident onmask 1002 which is positioned above thepolarization modulator 1004. Thepolarization modulator 1004, for example, a cycloidal diffractive waveplate, provides the diffractive property of the pattern obtained at thephotoalignment layer 1006 which is supported bysubstrate 1008. Thesubstrate 1008 may comprise any suitable material, for example, a polymer film. It is important to note that the diffractive waveplate may be shaped into a mask. Themask 1002, thepolarization modulator 1004 and thesubstrate 1008 are preferably in close proximity to one another in the fabrication process in a way similar to how contact lithography or a projection system may be utilized. The arrangement inFigure 10 is exaggerated in size to provide for ease of explanation. -
Figures 11A, 11B and 11C illustrate various views of an array of cycloidal diffractive waveplate labels obtained first on glass and then transferred to a thin support polymer film.Figures 11A and 11B illustrate the labels as viewed between crossed polarizers, hence the dark background. Since the cycloidal diffractive waveplates modulate the polarization state of light propagated therethough, the label 1100 appears bright between the crossed polarizers. However, without polarizers, the labels 1100 appear darker than the background due to diffraction of light out of the field of view as illustrated inFigure 11C . Essentially, with this technique, white-on-white labels and/or black-on-white labels may be easily fabricated. This provides the designer with the option of creating a label which is more readable and/or aesthetically pleasing for a given background.Figures 14A and 14B are a diagrammatic representation of the process of removing a polymer film comprising a series of printed labels from a substrate in accordance with the present invention. InFigure 14A , the polymer film comprising a series of printedlabels 1402 is shown mounted on asubstrate 1404. Thesubstrate 1404 supports thepolymer film 1402 during the fabrication process.Figure 14B illustrates thepolymer film 1402 separated from thesubstrate 1404 for transfer onto another object, for example, a support film or a contact lens. - In accordance with yet another alternate exemplary embodiment of the method of fabrication of embedded labels, diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions are created on the photoalignment layer directly. Once again, the process involves a number of steps. In a first step, a photoaligning release material is deposited onto a substrate. In the next step, diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions are created on the photoalignment layer by subjecting it to a cycloidal polarization pattern. In the next step, a reactive liquid crystal according to the desired pattern is deposited on the photoalignment layer. In the next step, the reactive liquid crystal is polymerized. In the next step, the label is released by dissolving the photoaligning release film using a solvent, for example, water. The resulting label may be utilized in any number of suitable applications.
Figure 12 illustrates this process in more detail. Thephotoalignment layer 1200 is patterned cycloidally over the whole area coating on thesubstrate 1202 followed by printing theliquid crystal monomer 1204 according to the pattern comprising the label as illustrated inFigure 12 . Polymerization of the monomer allows for releasing the pattern for transfer onto a contact lens as illustrated inFigure 2 . Transferring thelabel 1206 onto a contact lens in the form of separate letters, numbers, signs and/or symbols offers the advantage of reduced stresses on the contact lens structure and the reduced effect of the label on the mechanical properties of the lens that otherwise may lead to a change of shape and buckling, particularly for the large label size. - It is important to note that in any of the above exemplary processes that although a single substrate is utilized, individual labels may be easily separated and applied to any suitable structure, for example, a contact lens. Once a set of labels comprising the patterned hologram on a support substrate are formed, the label may be transferred onto the non-optical zone of the inner surface of the contact lens in the molding process. Then the lens is simply hydrated and packaged.
- In accordance with still another exemplary embodiment for the fabrication of embedded labels, a
liquid crystal monomer 1300 is coated over the whole area of cycloidallyphotoaligned film 1302, which is onsubstrate 1304, and is polymerized by light 1306 throughmask 1308 according to the label pattern as illustrated inFigure 13 . The unpolymerized portions of the pattern are then washed away by a solvent, thereby releasing the label. The advantage of this method is that no printing of the monomer is required, thereby simplifying the deposition process. - Rather than transferring labels in whole or in part, the labels may be printed directly onto a contact lens utilizing small cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes and/or pigments. The flakes and/or pigments may be obtained, for example, in a process similar to the printing process as illustrated and described with respect to
Figure 12 . The size and shape of the cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes and/or pigments may be controlled both by varying printing condition or polymerization conditions to fit, for example, stamps already used in production. By creating these flakes and/or pigments, one may minimize the stress differences between dissimilar materials. When a larger film is utilized and it is incorporated into another structure, for example, a contact lens, which is formed from a different material, stresses are created. However, when the size of the film is reduced, for example, by creating flakes and/or pigments, the stress may be reduced. - The embedded label may comprise a thin film as set forth herein and also include one or more protective layers. The one or more protective layers may themselves be thin films. The embedded label may also comprise functional materials, including photochromic materials and therapeutic agents.
- Once a label is fabricated by generating a patterned hologram on a support substrate, it may be incorporated into the contact lens. Generally speaking, the label is simply transferred and positioned in the desired location of the lens mold in a standard lens fabrication technique. Preferably, the label is positioned in the peripheral portion or zone of the lens rather than in the optic zone.
- It is important to note that the fabrication processes for the labels set forth herein may be utilized in conjunction with any number of structures. For example, the labels may be embedded in high end watches or bottles for wine or spirits. Additionally, cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes and/or pigments may be utilized in a similar manner.
- A non-exhaustive list of aspects of the disclosure are set out in the following numbered clauses:
-
Clause 1. An ophthalmic lens with embedded label, the ophthalmic lens
comprising:- a contact lens; and
- one or more embedded structures that are sensitive to the direction of incident light incorporated into the contact lens.
-
Clause 2. The ophthalmic lens according toClause 1, wherein the one or more embedded structures comprise holographic recordings. - Clause 3. The ophthalmic lens according to
Clause 2, wherein the holographic recordings are revealed only in transmitted light. - Clause 4. The ophthalmic lens according to
Clause 2, wherein the holographic recordings comprise polarization holograms. - Clause 5. The ophthalmic lens according to
Clause 2, wherein the holographic recordings are configured for diffraction in at least one of the vertical plane, the horizontal plane or a combination thereof. - Clause 6. The ophthalmic lens according to Clause 4, wherein the polarization holograms comprise diffractive waveplates.
- Clause 7. The ophthalmic lens according to Clause 6, wherein the diffractive waveplates are spectrally broadband.
- Clause 8. The ophthalmic lens according to Clause 6, wherein the diffractive waveplates comprise cycloidal diffractive waveplates.
- Clause 9. An ophthalmic lens with embedded label, the ophthalmic lens
comprising:- a contact lens; and
- one or more embedded structures that influence the propagation of light incident on the contact lens.
- Clause 10. A method for fabricating a label for a embedding in a secondary object, the method comprising the steps of:
- depositing a photaligning release material onto a substrate;
- aligning the photaligning release material with a linearly polarized light to create a homogenous background on the substrate;
- arranging a mask on a predetermined position in front of the substrate;
- exposing the homogenous background on the substrate to interfering light beams of orthogonal polarization states through the mask;
- coating the substrate with a reactive liquid crystal film;
- polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film;
- releasing the polymerized liquid crystal polymer film from the substrate; and
- transferring at least a portion of the released film to the secondary object.
- Clause 11. A method for fabricating a label for a secondary object, the method comprising the steps of:
- depositing a photaligning release material onto a substrate;
- aligning the photaligning release material with a linearly polarized light to create a homogenous background on the substrate;
- arranging a masked diffractive waveplate in front of the homogenous background on the substrate;
- exposing the homogenous background on the substrate to a single light beam through the masked diffractive waveplate;
- coating the homogenous background on the substrate with a reactive liquid crystal film;
- polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film;
- releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate; and
- transferring at least a portion of the related film to the secondary object.
- Clause 12. A method for fabricating label for embedding in a secondary object, the method comprising the steps of:
- depositing a photoaligning release material onto a substrate;
- creating diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions on the photoalinging release material by subjecting it to a predetermined cycliodal polarization pattern;
- depositing a reactive liquid crystal film on the photoalignment layer according to the predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern;
- polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film; and
- releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate; and transferring at least a portion of the released film to the secondary object.
- Clause 13. A method for fabricating a label from cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes for embedding in a secondary object, the method comprising the steps of:
- depositing a photoaligning release material onto a substrate;
- creating diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions on the photoaligning release material by subjecting it to a predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern;
- depositing a reactive liquid crystal film on the photoalignment layer according to the predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern;
- polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film;
- releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate;
- creating flakes out of the polymerized liquid crystal film; and
- transferring at least a portion of the flakes to the secondary object.
Claims (11)
- An ophthalmic lens with embedded label, the ophthalmic lens comprising:a contact lens; andone or more embedded structures that are sensitive to the direction of incident light incorporated into the contact lens, wherein the one or more embedded structures comprise holographic recordings, wherein the holographic recordings are revealed only in transmitted light.
- The ophthalmic lens according to Claim 1, wherein the holographic recordings comprise polarization holograms.
- The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holographic recordings are configured for diffraction in at least one of the vertical plane, the horizontal plane or a combination thereof.
- The ophthalmic lens according to Claim 2, wherein the polarization holograms comprise diffractive waveplates.
- The ophthalmic lens according to Claim 4, wherein the diffractive waveplates are spectrally broadband.
- The ophthalmic lens according to Claim 4, wherein the diffractive waveplates comprise cycloidal diffractive waveplates.
- An ophthalmic lens with embedded label, the ophthalmic lens comprising:a contact lens; andone or more embedded structures that influence the propagation of light incident on the contact lens, wherein the one or more embedded structures comprise holographic recordings, wherein the holographic recordings are revealed only in transmitted light.
- A method for fabricating a label for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedded structures of claim 1 or 7, the method comprising the steps of:depositing a photaligning release material onto a substrate;aligning the photaligning release material with a linearly polarized light to create a homogenous background on the substrate;arranging a mask on a predetermined position in front of the substrate;exposing the homogenous background on the substrate to interfering light beams of orthogonal polarization states through the mask;coating the substrate with a reactive liquid crystal film;polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film;releasing the polymerized liquid crystal polymer film from the substrate; andtransferring at least a portion of the released film to the ophthalmic lens.
- A method for fabricating a label for an ophthalmic lens the label comprising the embedded structures of claim 1 or 7, the method comprising the steps of:depositing a photaligning release material onto a substrate;aligning the photaligning release material with a linearly polarized light to create a homogenous background on the substrate;arranging a masked diffractive waveplate in front of the homogenous background on the substrate;exposing the homogenous background on the substrate to a single light beam through the masked diffractive waveplate;coating the homogenous background on the substrate with a reactive liquid crystal film;polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film;releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate; andtransferring at least a portion of the related film to the ophthalmic lens.
- A method for fabricating label for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedded structures of claim 1 or 7, the method comprising the steps of:depositing a photoaligning release material onto a substrate;creating diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions on the photoalinging release material by subjecting it to a predetermined cycliodal polarization pattern;depositing a reactive liquid crystal film on the photoalignment layer according to the predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern;polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film; andreleasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate; andtransferring at least a portion of the released film to the ophthalmic lens.
- A method for fabricating a label from cycloidal diffractive waveplate flakes for embedding in an ophthalmic lens, the label comprising the embedding structures of claim 1 or 7, the method comprising the steps of:depositing a photoaligning release material onto a substrate;creating diffractive waveplate photoalignment conditions on the photoaligning release material by subjecting it to a predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern;depositing a reactive liquid crystal film on the photoalignment layer according to the predetermined cycloidal polarization pattern;polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal film;releasing the polymerized liquid crystal film from the substrate;creating flakes out of the polymerized liquid crystal film; andtransferring at least a portion of the flakes to the ophthalmic lens.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP16192485.7A EP3139201B1 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2014-07-24 | Contact lenses with embedded labels |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/950,389 US9195072B2 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2013-07-25 | Contact lenses with embedded labels |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16192485.7A Division EP3139201B1 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2014-07-24 | Contact lenses with embedded labels |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2848965A2 EP2848965A2 (en) | 2015-03-18 |
EP2848965A3 EP2848965A3 (en) | 2015-05-20 |
EP2848965B1 true EP2848965B1 (en) | 2016-10-19 |
Family
ID=51220483
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP14178412.4A Not-in-force EP2848965B1 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2014-07-24 | Contact lenses with embedded labels |
EP16192485.7A Not-in-force EP3139201B1 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2014-07-24 | Contact lenses with embedded labels |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16192485.7A Not-in-force EP3139201B1 (en) | 2013-07-25 | 2014-07-24 | Contact lenses with embedded labels |
Country Status (12)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US9195072B2 (en) |
EP (2) | EP2848965B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6502034B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20150013056A (en) |
CN (1) | CN104345475A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2014204546B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR102014018365A2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2856469A1 (en) |
HK (1) | HK1207906A1 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2583342C2 (en) |
SG (2) | SG10201403940SA (en) |
TW (2) | TWI616703B (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD720848S1 (en) * | 2012-05-21 | 2015-01-06 | Butterfly Health, Inc. | Body liner for anal leakage |
US8591488B2 (en) | 2012-01-31 | 2013-11-26 | Butterfly Health, Inc. | Devices and methods for treating accidental bowel leakage |
US10075625B2 (en) | 2013-07-04 | 2018-09-11 | Beam Engineering For Advanced Measurements Co. | Method for camera detection and jamming |
USD796684S1 (en) * | 2014-03-18 | 2017-09-05 | Bio-Medical Carbon Technology Co., Ltd. | Wound dressing |
CA3089937A1 (en) | 2018-02-01 | 2019-08-08 | Amo Groningen B.V. | Lenses with optical markings |
US20200132897A1 (en) * | 2018-10-24 | 2020-04-30 | TruIris LLC | Cosmetic holographic wearable ocular devices and methods of production thereof |
US11822709B2 (en) * | 2019-08-08 | 2023-11-21 | Essilor International | Systems, devices and methods using spectacle lens and frame |
EP3955051A1 (en) | 2020-08-10 | 2022-02-16 | Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH | Spectacle lens and a method for producing a spectacle lens |
CN114371607A (en) * | 2020-10-15 | 2022-04-19 | 四川大学 | Digital holographic imaging system based on composite zone plate |
Family Cites Families (26)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2699334B2 (en) | 1986-12-25 | 1998-01-19 | 株式会社島津製作所 | contact lens |
US6139146A (en) * | 1997-12-29 | 2000-10-31 | Novartis Ag | Programmable corrective lenses |
US6024448A (en) | 1998-03-31 | 2000-02-15 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc. | Contact lenses bearing identifying marks |
US6203156B1 (en) | 1998-03-31 | 2001-03-20 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. | Contact lenses bearing marks |
US6643001B1 (en) | 1998-11-20 | 2003-11-04 | Revco, Inc. | Patterned platelets |
US6042230A (en) | 1998-12-14 | 2000-03-28 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc. | Markings for contact lenses |
GB2374081B (en) * | 2001-04-06 | 2004-06-09 | Central Research Lab Ltd | A method of forming a liquid crystal polymer layer |
AU2003278827A1 (en) | 2002-09-12 | 2004-04-30 | Cyvera Corp. | Method and apparatus for labelling using diffraction grating-based encoded optical identification elements |
US8089678B2 (en) * | 2003-07-01 | 2012-01-03 | Transitions Optical, Inc | Clear to circular polarizing photochromic devices and methods of making the same |
EP1744900B1 (en) | 2004-04-30 | 2016-07-20 | Giesecke & Devrient GmbH | Security element and methods for the production thereof |
US7018041B2 (en) | 2004-06-02 | 2006-03-28 | Luckoff Display Corporation | Cosmetic holographic optical diffractive contact lenses |
TWI248530B (en) * | 2004-07-19 | 2006-02-01 | Innova Vision Inc | Color contact lens having hologram and manufacturing method thereof |
KR101281401B1 (en) * | 2005-03-01 | 2013-07-02 | 더치 폴리머 인스티튜트 | Polarization gratings in mesogenic films |
JP5176269B2 (en) * | 2005-09-28 | 2013-04-03 | 凸版印刷株式会社 | Anti-counterfeit medium and authenticity determination method |
FR2894514B1 (en) * | 2005-12-08 | 2008-02-15 | Essilor Int | METHOD OF TRANSFERRING A MICRONIC PATTERN TO AN OPTICAL ARTICLE AND OPTICAL ARTICLE THUS OBTAINED |
ITTO20060303A1 (en) | 2006-04-26 | 2007-10-27 | Consiglio Nazionale Ricerche | LETTER OF ASSIGNMENT FOLLOWS |
JP5332505B2 (en) * | 2008-10-28 | 2013-11-06 | 凸版印刷株式会社 | Transfer foil and its transfer |
EP2221592A1 (en) | 2009-01-22 | 2010-08-25 | Stichting Dutch Polymer Institute | Multifunctional optical sensor |
CA2769041A1 (en) | 2009-07-18 | 2011-01-27 | Leuko Ophthalmic Technologies Limited | Methods material and systems for producing a contact lens and contact lenses produced using said methods material and systems |
KR20110043459A (en) | 2009-10-19 | 2011-04-27 | 주식회사 엘지화학 | Patterned retardation film and method for manufacturing the same |
US9025251B2 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2015-05-05 | Opsec Security Group, Inc. | Optically variable devices, security device and article employing same, and associated method of creating same |
US8113654B2 (en) | 2010-01-08 | 2012-02-14 | Benjamin David Enerson | Contact lens with visual indicator |
US20110262844A1 (en) | 2010-04-21 | 2011-10-27 | Beam Engineering For Advanced Measurement Co. | Fabrication of high efficiency, high quality, large area diffractive waveplates and arrays |
US8820924B2 (en) * | 2012-07-31 | 2014-09-02 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. | Inversion marking for contact lenses |
US8911080B2 (en) * | 2012-08-27 | 2014-12-16 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. | Usage compliance indicator for contact lenses |
WO2014164599A1 (en) | 2013-03-11 | 2014-10-09 | U.S. Government As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Method of fabricating liquid crystal polymer film |
-
2013
- 2013-07-25 US US13/950,389 patent/US9195072B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2014
- 2014-07-09 CA CA2856469A patent/CA2856469A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2014-07-09 SG SG10201403940SA patent/SG10201403940SA/en unknown
- 2014-07-09 SG SG10201601253VA patent/SG10201601253VA/en unknown
- 2014-07-18 RU RU2014129775/28A patent/RU2583342C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2014-07-22 TW TW103125135A patent/TWI616703B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2014-07-22 TW TW106133064A patent/TWI616672B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2014-07-22 AU AU2014204546A patent/AU2014204546B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2014-07-24 KR KR1020140093706A patent/KR20150013056A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2014-07-24 JP JP2014150465A patent/JP6502034B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2014-07-24 EP EP14178412.4A patent/EP2848965B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2014-07-24 EP EP16192485.7A patent/EP3139201B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2014-07-25 CN CN201410360024.8A patent/CN104345475A/en active Pending
- 2014-07-25 BR BR102014018365A patent/BR102014018365A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2015
- 2015-09-01 HK HK15108515.2A patent/HK1207906A1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2015-09-25 US US14/865,630 patent/US9304328B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US9304328B2 (en) | 2016-04-05 |
TW201809728A (en) | 2018-03-16 |
BR102014018365A2 (en) | 2015-09-29 |
SG10201403940SA (en) | 2015-02-27 |
EP2848965A2 (en) | 2015-03-18 |
RU2583342C2 (en) | 2016-05-10 |
AU2014204546A1 (en) | 2015-02-12 |
SG10201601253VA (en) | 2016-03-30 |
AU2014204546B2 (en) | 2018-02-22 |
RU2014129775A (en) | 2016-02-10 |
CN104345475A (en) | 2015-02-11 |
HK1207906A1 (en) | 2016-02-12 |
US20150029459A1 (en) | 2015-01-29 |
CA2856469A1 (en) | 2015-01-25 |
JP2015026075A (en) | 2015-02-05 |
TWI616672B (en) | 2018-03-01 |
JP6502034B2 (en) | 2019-04-17 |
EP3139201A1 (en) | 2017-03-08 |
US20160011435A1 (en) | 2016-01-14 |
TW201523068A (en) | 2015-06-16 |
EP2848965A3 (en) | 2015-05-20 |
EP3139201B1 (en) | 2019-04-17 |
TWI616703B (en) | 2018-03-01 |
KR20150013056A (en) | 2015-02-04 |
US9195072B2 (en) | 2015-11-24 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9304328B2 (en) | Contact lenses with embedded labels | |
US9835876B2 (en) | Methods and apparatus for ophthalmic devices including cycloidally oriented liquid crystal layers | |
AU2014227462B2 (en) | Methods and apparatus for ophthalmic devices including cycloidally oriented liquid crystal layers | |
Tabirian et al. | SkS Daniel Riall, St. Johns, EP 0000000 GS 7/2 ()() S |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20140724 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
PUAL | Search report despatched |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A3 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: G02B 1/04 20060101AFI20150415BHEP |
|
R17P | Request for examination filed (corrected) |
Effective date: 20150611 |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20151222 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: HK Ref legal event code: DE Ref document number: 1207906 Country of ref document: HK |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20160627 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
RIN2 | Information on inventor provided after grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: VERGARA TOLOZA, RAFAEL Inventor name: TABIRIAN, NELSON V. Inventor name: SPAULDING, RUSSELL T. |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 838811 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20161115 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602014004313 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: MP Effective date: 20161019 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG4D |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LV Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 838811 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20161019 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: LT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: NO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170119 Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170120 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170219 Ref country code: HR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: PL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170220 Ref country code: RS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: PLFP Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602014004313 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: RO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: CZ Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: EE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BG Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170119 Ref country code: SM Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20170720 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: HK Ref legal event code: GR Ref document number: 1207906 Country of ref document: HK |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20170731 Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20170731 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: PLFP Year of fee payment: 5 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20170724 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20170724 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 Ref country code: HU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO Effective date: 20140724 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CY Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: TR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20161019 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IE Payment date: 20220609 Year of fee payment: 9 Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20220606 Year of fee payment: 9 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20220609 Year of fee payment: 9 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20220531 Year of fee payment: 9 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R119 Ref document number: 602014004313 Country of ref document: DE |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20230724 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: MM4A |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20240201 Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230724 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230731 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230724 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230724 |